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Topic: Hive location question (Read 769 times)

Ok im getting things ready for my 2 new hives.... I want to put 2 treated 4x4 post in the ground with quickcreate and sit my hives on box platforms built on the post . My question is how high can I go off the ground? Im thinking about 15 inchs. I even thought about20 inchs...

Also how far apart should I put my hives?Other comments welcome.......

As a guy who was working through all these same questions last year at this time...

Here's my 2 cents...I'd avoid making anything permanent until you get some experience. I built my hive stand frame out of 2x8x10's and placed that atop 1 1/2 cinder blocks on each end. Going into next Spring, I think I'll change both it's height and location.

As for how far apart...some folks butt their hives together, I like to leave room to fit my hive tool comfortable between them. This allows me to work a hive from either side, without being restricted by another.

« Last Edit: December 31, 2013, 12:43:42 PM by Moots »

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It depends some to the room you have for bee yard. I like mine on a 8X8X16 concrete block with a 2X4 across the bottom board to set on the block. I also like the hives far enough apart so I can put a super on the floor and not bother the hive next to it. OK I did have my hives on a concrete slab with a roof next to my house. Now I have them on a 10 X 30 deck about a 100 yards away. It has a roof and a wall on the north side. The deck is just lower the the tail gate of my truck. Easy load and unloading of supers. There was a house trailer there and the people sold the trailer and moved, so the deck was free. Good luck

I like mine on a 8X8X16 concrete block with a 2X4 across the bottom board to set on the block.

I did the same, I'm going to change over to 4x4's. I don't like the amount of sag the 2x4's have developed.

I did the same thing. I found that adding another block in the middle of the run prevented any sag. As to distance apart, that's your call anything will work. I did find that when then hives get closer together, it seemed helpful to make the fronts of the hive look different like painting each landing board a different color. I was told it helped to prevent drifting. As to which way to face them, east, southeast if possible & provide some sort of wind break to protect them.